It’s that time of year again: back to school and back to busy. September can feel like there are never enough hours in the day, between school, work, and activities. Factor in time to prep and cook for your family every night, while also sticking to a budget, and dinnertime can become downright stressful. Savory is here to help keep family mealtime low-key and delicious with these super-fast, affordable back-to-school dinners that come together with just five ingredients. These weeknight winners are ready in a snap with just a small amount of simple prep. They’re designed to help you spend less money at the store and less time in the kitchen, so family dinner is always a welcome addition to the schedule.
Spinach and Feta Pie
Inspired by traditional spanakopita, this recipe is a quick and simple twist. We love that it incorporates both feta for that classic salty, cheesy bite alongside cottage cheese for a boost of protein and creamy texture. A bag of frozen spinach helps keep this recipe speedy, and a box of pre-made puffed pastry helps get this on the table with just 15 minutes of prep before it finishes off in the oven.
Get the recipe: Spinach and Feta Pie
Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers
This spin on stuffed peppers replaces traditional ground beef with time-saving shortcut ingredients. Store-bought pulled pork stars in the filling, and budget-friendly frozen corn, jarred salsa, and brown rice bulk up the inside of your favorite roasted bell peppers. You’ll have all of the flavor of a long-cooking stuffed pepper in just 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers
Instant Pot® Chili Colorado
If you’re feeding meaty appetites, stew meat is a smart way to serve beef without breaking the bank. The Instant Pot® makes it easy to coax rich flavor and tender bite from seasoned cubes of chuck, jazzed up with chili powder, onion, and beef broth. Spoon it over Mexican-style rice to stretch your buck even further.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot® Chili Colorado
Teriyaki Pork and Pineapple with Rice
With just fifteen minutes and five ingredients, you can satisfy that takeout craving with a fraction of the cost. Lean pork chops, frozen pineapple, and store-bought teriyaki sauce combine with the fresh zing of green onions in this sweet-and-sour pork riff served over microwave-ready rice.
Get the recipe: Teriyaki Pork and Pineapple with Rice
Instant Pot® Shrimp Alfredo
A luscious seafood pasta dinner is just five ingredients away, thanks to this impossibly easy recipe. Frozen shrimp – a more affordable alternative to fresh – goes directly into the Instant Pot® without thawing, along with uncooked linguine and creamy, kid-friendly jarred alfredo sauce. Dinner will be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot® Shrimp Alfredo
Fusilli with Butternut Squash and Sausage
Nutritious butternut squash blends into a velvety sauce for this hearty pasta that’s perfect for cool fall nights. Italian chicken sausage (or swap in your favorite sausage) punches up the protein content while baby spinach adds a fresh note to curly fusilli noodles that catch every last bit of sauce. This 30-minute winner is packed with veggies and surprisingly kid-friendly.
Get the recipe: Fusilli with Butternut Squash and Sausage
Slow Cooker Pork BBQ Sliders
On busy weeknight, there’s nothing better than a “set it and forget it” recipe, unless it’s one that comes together with just a handful of affordable ingredients. The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting for these melt-in-your-mouth sliders with tender, shredded pork and crunchy coleslaw. Leftovers make a tasty, portable lunch the next day, and they’re also an awesome addition to any Game Day snack lineup.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Pork BBQ Sliders
Creamed Spinach Gnocchi Bake
A favorite steakhouse side serves as the inspiration for this vegetarian-friendly recipe that preps in under 10 minutes. Frozen gnocchi and frozen spinach give this comforting baked pasta with two kinds of cheese a head start. Make it your own by adding any veggies you like, such as mushrooms, peppers, or cherry tomatoes.
Get the recipe: Creamed Spinach and Gnocchi Bake
Enchilada Ravioli Skillet
Two family-friendly dinners in one is weeknight math anyone can do. Frozen ravioli replaces traditional tortillas in this skillet version of beef enchiladas with black beans and plenty of melty cheese. It’s ready in just about 20 minutes and makes for delicious leftovers.
Get the recipe: Enchilada Ravioli Skillet
Pierogi and Cabbage Stir Fry
This taste of cozy comfort by way of Eastern Europe starts in the freezer section of the grocery store. Frozen onion and potato pierogi star in this stick-to-your-ribs stir fry with smoky bacon and store-bought veggie slaw. A touch of light sour cream brightens the whole dish, which is ready in just 35 minutes.
Get the recipe: Pierogi and Cabbage Stir Fry
One Pot Shrimp and Coconut Rice
Quick-cooking shrimp stars in this light but satisfying meal that hits the table in under 30 minutes. Unsweetened coconut milk and sweet chili sauce add Southeast Asian-inspired flavor to affordable frozen shrimp that cook together with peas and rice in a single pot.
Get the recipe: One-Pot Shrimp and Coconut Rice
Hummus Chicken with Roasted Carrots
This recipe helps to stretch a buck by repurposing leftovers of a reliable snack, carrots and dip, into the components of a well-balanced dinner. A pinch of cumin and your favorite flavor of hummus make up the easy marinade for chicken breasts that roast on the same baking sheet as a side of tender baby carrots.
Get the recipe: Hummus Chicken with Roasted Carrots
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
This meal-in-one from the slow cooker is delicious on its own and equally appetizing stuffed in a burrito or piled onto salad greens. Chicken breast cooked in your favorite leftover jarred salsa becomes shredded and fork-tender in the slow cooker while black beans and Mexican rice cook together effortlessly in the microwave.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Roasted Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Potato and Broccoli
Chicken sausage takes on new life rolled into flavorful meatballs in this complete meal that’s full of nutrients and flavor. The satisfying combo of roasted broccoli, sweet potatoes, and cheesy, garlicky chicken meatballs cooks together on a single sheet pan with just 10 minutes of prep.
Get the recipe: Roasted Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
BBQ Chicken Ramen with Corn
Instant ramen is synonymous with eating on a budget. This recipe gives them a glow-up for a complete meal that both kids and adults will love in less than 10 minutes. Shredded rotisserie chicken, frozen corn, and green onions bulk up savory chicken ramen noodles spiked with the tang of your favorite bottled barbecue sauce.
Get the recipe: BBQ Chicken Ramen with Corn
Cabbage Roll Chicken Enchiladas
This lower-carb take on Tex-Mex makes a quick pit stop in Eastern Europe, the birthplace of cabbage rolls. Quick-boiled cabbage leaves replace tortillas as the vehicle for a saucy filling of shredded chicken, corn, and melty Mexican cheese blend.
Get the recipe: Cabbage Roll Chicken Enchiladas
Pinto Bean Quesadillas
Skip the drive-thru and make your very own quesadillas right at home with five simple ingredients and just 15 minutes. Refried pinto beans are ultra-creamy and are paired with pepper Jack cheese for a little kick and some prepared salsa of your choice to make this family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe: Pinto Bean Quesadillas
Open-Faced Meatball Toasts
If your family loves meatball subs, these open-faced sammies that start with a familiar freezer staple are sure to be a hit. Frozen Texas toast is the tasty canvas for store-bought, Italian-style meatballs with tomato sauce and two kinds of melted cheese.
Get the recipe: Open-Faced Meatball Toasts
Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Skillet
Bring the flavors of Oktoberfest to your house in just 20 minutes with this hearty skillet starring smoky turkey kielbasa. Frozen pierogies and sauerkraut round out this complete meal finished with the tang of whole grain mustard.
Get the recipe: Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Skillet
Thai Chicken Burritos
This recipe proves imaginative fusion food doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Store-bought helpers like frozen chicken tenders and packaged slaw mix speed up prep for mouthwatering, Thai-inspired burritos served with bottled peanut sauce.
Get the recipe: Thai Chicken Burritos
Easy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This recipe lives up to its name as an easy way to get kids to eat their veggie, that’s also easy to make. Butternut squash and American cheese make up the creamy sauce over pasta shells that prep in almost the same amount of time it takes to make the boxed stuff.
Get the recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
